Veraison: When Grapes Turn Red

One of the most important moments in a grapevine’s annual lifecycle is the onset of ripening, when the grapes turn from green to red and naturally begin to sweeten. The French call this process veraison (“verr-ray-zohn”). Veraison also occurs in white grapes, but without the color changes–white grapes simply become more translucent.

When Does Veraison Happen? Veraison starts in late July in the Northern Hemisphere and in late January in the Southern Hemisphere.